The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) has named an interim executive director: Jennifer Gerber. Gerber has served as an Assistant Director for the Columbia University Film Festival, Media team Director for the Little Rock Film Festival, Curator of Low Key Arts' Arkansas Shorts film festival since 2014 and as Tech Director and Media Team Director for the HSDFF. She will lead the search for a permanent HSDFF executive director.

Gerber steps into a role formerly occupied by Courtney Pledger, who was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to direct the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) in March of this year.

“We are so grateful that Jen is willing to take the lead on the 2017 HSDFF and keep this transition as smooth as possible,” HSDFF Board Chairman Don Gooch said. “Her experience will help us continue to stage the well-regarded festival that our patrons have come to expect.”

Recipients of the Spa City Award for Best Documentary Short will qualify for consideration in theDocumentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run,provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.